How to network your way to the topNetworking is vital for anyone who wants a leadership position, say top executives. It's important to cultivate relationships over a period of years and to let people see your passion for things beyond immediate professional projects. "[P]assion transcends everything ... people relate to that. It's contagious, and they can't help but love you," says PepsiCo executive Sheetal Rajpal. Knowledge@Wharton
(12/5)

Good bosses don't waste time on distractionsBosses need to make sure they don't waste time chasing after stuff that's cool but unimportant, getting sucked into projects with no clear endpoint, or overreacting to minor, one-off problems, writes Terry Starbucker. "It's all a matter of leadership perspective -- that ability to take a step back, and 'see' the bigger picture," he writes. TerryStarbucker.com
(12/2)

Strategic Management

Companies should act more like countries, Google chairman saysGoogle and Apple have had their differences, but both companies are run by grown-ups and are able to work together when it serves their interests, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt says. "The adult way to run a business is to run it more like a country. They have disputes, yet they've actually been able to have huge trade with each other. They're not sending bombs at each other," Schmidt says. The Wall Street Journal
(12/4)

Get the door -- it's Burger KingBurger King is looking to expand into home delivery for its Whoppers, with 71 restaurant locations in four urban areas offering the service. The chain has developed specialized packaging to ensure burgers and fries don't get soggy en route. "Everyone's main concern is, 'How do the French fries hold?' " says Burger King executive Alex Macedo. CNNMoney/Fortune
(12/5)

A streetcar named innovationThe Turkish prime minister once said that democracy was "like a streetcar" -- a means to an end, rather than a goal in its own right. We could say the same of innovation, writes Scott Bowden, since it's vital to focus on our companies' true goals rather than pursuing innovation processes for their own sake. "[W]e must not become so focused on the mechanism of our journey that we lose sight of the overall destination," Bowden writes. InnovationExcellence.com
(12/5)

The Global Perspective

Starbucks outlines plan for global growth beyond coffeeStarbucks plans to expand its operations in the Americas and China in coming years, in part by broadening its focus to include tea and juices. More than 3,000 new stores are expected over the next five years, mostly in the Americas, including Evolution Fresh juice outlets and "tea bars" in Teavana locations. Reuters
(12/6)

Engage. Innovate. Discuss.

How to mix business and pleasure at the holidaysThis holiday season, set yourself the goal of acting like a rock star at all the personal and professional gatherings you attend, advises Baron Christopher Hanson. That means turning up with a bottle of something special, smiling, speaking positively and earning yourself a reputation for working holiday-season miracles when things go wrong. "Rock stars acquire and install solutions quickly and quietly," Hanson writes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership
(12/4)

Daily Diversion

5 musical tributes to Dave BrubeckLegendary jazz innovator Dave Brubeck died Wednesday at the age of 91. Here, five musicians across a range of styles -- including Stevie Wonder and dub pioneer King Tubby -- offer their versions of Brubeck's iconic 1959 hit "Take Five." Fast Company online
(12/5)